Rail heating apparatus



31 m 1 2 Ii warm Hi March 5, 1935. R. E. FRICKEY ET AL RAIL HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 17, 1933 4 ShBGtS-ShQSt 1 INVENIORS Poga/ f. Fr/ckeg ATTORNEYS .9, ELEOTLMU F ftFi March S 1935.

R. E. FRICKEY El AL 1,992,943

RAIL HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Poga/ f. Fr/cveg ,4r/or7 .5. ya/enborn' 219. wamp E I 5%???) Ram March 5, 1935. R, R E ET'AL 1,992,943

RAIL HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 17, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E F36 Fl 5 f 5 ET viz 5 t:- X

INVENTORJ' Faga/ E Fr/ckeg Ar/on .5. a/enborn- 219. ELECTRIG 1: m l

March 5, 1935.

R. E. FRICKEY ET AL 1,

RAIL HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV o s Foga/ 5. nc

A TTORN E YS.

Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE RAIL HEATING APPARATUS Royal E. Frickey, San Kalenborn, Redwood Francisco, and Arion S. City, Calif., assignors to Application April 1'7, 1933, Serial No. 666,528

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for heating railroad rails, particularly where the heating is for the purpose of hardening the rail by subsequent chilling.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus of the above character which Will utilize an electric are as a source of heat and which will modify the action of the electric arc in such a manner as to minimize undue localized heating.

A further object of the invention is to provide rail heating means making possible a high rate of heat input to secure rapid heating of an upper layer of the rail metal.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View, illustrating a machine incorporating the present invention, for the heating of railroad rails.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in cross-section.

Fig. 3 is a plan detail, illustrating certain parts associated with the arc electrode and With the cover for the box within which the electrode operates.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the machine as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram, illustrating electrical connections for the electrical parts of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line 66 of Fig. 4, and showing magnetic means utilized for spreading the electric arc.

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The apparatus as illustrated in the drawings consists of a frame 10, which is portable to the extent that it can be readily shifted from one place to another along a railroad track, and can be removed from the track to accommodate trafiic. The frame in this instance consists of a pair of transverse axles 11, connected by the end frame members 12. Wheels 13 are journaled upon the ends of shafts 11 and serve to engage the rails of the track. Carried by the frame 10 there is a suitable support or hanger 14 which serves in turn to support certain operating parts of the apparatus.

In order to permit vertical adjustment of the hanger 14 with respect to the frame 10, means are provided which can be constructed as follows:-- A pair of rotatable shafts 16 and 17 are carried by the end frame members 12. Sprockets 18 fixed to these shafts are connected by the chain 19, so that the two shafts are caused to rotate in unison. Fixed to each of the shafts 16 and 17 are a pair of sprockets 21 to which the upper ends of chains 22 are secured. The lower ends of chains 22 are secured to hanger 14. Thus, upon rotation of one of the shafts 16 or 1'7, as by means of lever 24, hanger 14 may be raised or lowered to any desired level and can be locked in such position by locking lever 24.

Extending from one end of hanger 14 are the structural members 26 which overlie the rail 25 to be heated. Secured between structure members 26 there is a box 27 which, as will be presently explained, serves to encompass the area of the rail to be heated.

A suitable detailed construction of box 2'? can best be explained by reference to Figs. 6 and '7. It will be noted that in this instance the end walls 28, and likewise the bottom of the box, are cut away to form a slot to receive the upper portion of the rail ball. In order to assist in guiding box 27 into proper engagement with the rail, structure members 26 are shown provided with depending fingers 32 which are adapted to engage the opposite side faces of the rail ball, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. These fingers can be slightly resilient, and their lower ends can be bent outwardly, as illustrated, to facilitate engagement.

In order to provide an electric arc to the upper surface of the rail encompassed by box 27, we provide an electric arc electrode 36, which may be of carbon or like suitable material. The mounting for electrode 36 incorporates a plate 37 which serves as a closure for box 27 during normal operation of the apparatus. Mounted upon plate 3'7, and insulated from the same by suitable means such as an insulating bushing 38, there is a block 39 which is preferably made of suitable magnetic material, such as iron. Block 39 is apertured to receive the electrode 36, and it preferably forms a part of magnetic means for spreading the electric arc struck between the lower end of electrode 36 and the upper surface of the rail. Thus formed upon block 39 are the depending magnetic pole pieces 41 and 42which are located upon opposite sides of the arc electrode, that is, substantially in a plane coincident with the axis of the electrode and at right angles to the rail. Surrounding the magnetic poles 41 and 42 are the conductor coils 43 and 44, which are preferably made of a metal which will withstand relatively high temperatures, such as nichrome. These coils can be serially connected and are adapted to be excited from a suitable source of alternating current. Thus, the upper terminal of coil 43 is shown connected to the upper end of coil 44, while the lower end of coil 43 has its lead wire 46 connected to the metal block 39. The lead wire 48 from the lower end of coil 44 extends upwardly thru an insulating bushing 49, and is electrically connected to a bus conductor 51. Suitable insulation is preferably provided for the coils 43 and 44, not only to insulate the conductors forming these coils from adjustment metal parts, but also to afford protection against splattering from the arm. Thus, each of the coils, together with its associated pole pieces, is shown embedded in suitable refractory insulation 53, which in turn is shown surrounded by suitable refractory cup 54.

It has been found desirable to provide suitable means for cooling the block 39, the coils 43 and 44 and their associated parts. Thus, block 39 is shown provided with longitudinal liquid ports 57 which are connected together by the transverse ports 58. Ports 58 in turn communicate with the upper ends of passages 59, which extend downwardly into the poles 41 and 42. Pipes 60 make connection with the longitudinal ports 57 and enable the inflow and discharge of a cooling liquid such as water.

In order to more securely mount block 39 with respect to the cover 37, one end of this block is shown provided with a stud 62 adapted to be secured with respect to the cover 37 by clamp 63 which is insulated to prevent grounding at this point. Likewise pipes 60, which extend toward the rear of the machine, are shown secured to the cover 37 by means of an insulated clamp 66.

In order to frictionally retain the electrode in proper vertical position, we have shown means including a U-shaped metal strap 69. This strap is urged against one side of the electrode 36, by the tension springs 71. Lug 72 extending upwardly from block 39 retains strip 69 in the event the electrode is removed in entirety.

Cover plate 37 is preferably mounted in such a manner that it is free to move in various directions in a horizontal plane. To this end we have illustrated a detailed construction as follows: Spaced from the forward or outer side of box 27 there is a roller or shaft '73 which extends substantially horizontal and substantially longitudinally of the rail. The ends of roller 73 are provided with pivotal connections 74 and 76 to the outer ends of structural members 26. Arranged to cooperate with roller '73, we provide a pair of spaced transverse rollers 77. The ends of rollers 77 have pivotal connections 78 and 79, with arms 81, which in turn are mounted upon the forward or outer edge of closure plate 37.

The engagement between rollers 73 and 77 serves to sustain the weight of closure plate 37 and its associated parts, whereby this plate can be moved a limited amount in any direction in a general horizontal plane, with a minimum of friction.

To provide means for continuously traversing the electrode 36 in directions both lateral and longitudinal with respect to the rail, to effect distribution of the arc over the area to be heated, we provide means which can best be understood by reference to Fig. 2. Carried by the support 14 there is a gear box 86 upon which an electric motor 87 is mounted. Motor 87 is provided with a vertical drive shaft 88 which is coupled to an operating shaft of the gear box 86. Two shafts 89 and 91 extend from the gear box 86, and a speed reducing gearing connects these shafts with the motor shaft 88, thus serving to drive the same at different rates. Fixed to shaft 89 there is a cam 92, and engaging within the groove 93 formed in this cam, there is a roller 94. Roller 94 is carried by a casting 96 or equivalent member, which is bored to receive one end of a rod 97. By means of a set screw 98, casting 96 can be adjustably fixed to the rod 97. In order to guide this casting 96 for reciprocation in one direction only with respect to the gear box 86, a guide rod 99 is provided, which extends thru another bore provided in casting 96. This guide rod is shown carried by hub 101 formed as a part of the gear box and surrounding shaft 89.

With respect to the main frame 10 of the machine, rod 97 is reciprocated not only in a direction laterally of the rail, by cam 92, but also simultaneously in a direction longitudinally of the rail. As shown more clearly in Fig. 1, gear box 86 is mounted upon a carriage 103, the ends of which slidably engage a pair of spaced parallel rods 104. Depending from the carriage 103 there is a bracket 106 which carries a sleeve 107 to slidably engage rod 97. Fixed to the shaft 91 there is a cam 108, the groove 109 of which is engaged by roller 111. This roller is carried by a bracket 112, which in turn is mounted upon one of the structural members 26.

To afford an operating connection between rod 97 and the electrode 36 together with the cover 37, the outer end of rod 97 is provided with a hinge connection 113 with insulator 114. Insulator 114 in turn connects with a rod 116 which is suitably attached to the liquid pipes 60 previously described. Thus, referring to Figs. 3 and 6, clamping means for this purpose has been shown consisting of a body 117, bored to receive rod 116, and provided with a set screw 118. Side clamping plates 119 serve to clamp the body 117 to the liquid pipes 60. An electrical conductor 121 is shown connected to the body 117, for making connections with the electrode 36 and that terminal of coil 43 which is grounded to the block 39. Flexible hose connections 122 are shown for circulating cooling liquid thru the pipes 60.

It is evident from the above that upon operation of motor 87, the carriage 103 and all parts directly connected to the same, including the gear box 86, the electric motor, bracket 106 and rod 107, are reciprocated back and forth upon rods 104, in a direction longitudinal of the rail. At the same time cam 92, operating thru casting 96, reciprocates rod 97 in a direction lateral to the rail. Rod 97 reciprocates many times laterally of the rail for a complete cycle of longitudinal reciprocation. Preferably the revolutions per minute of cam 97 bear an uneven or odd ratio with respect to the revolutions per minute of cam surface 108. Therefore, the resultant traversing movement of electrode 36 is in a direction both lateral and longitudinal of the rail, and the pattern traced by the arc between this electrode and the surface of the rail does not retrace itself, although the arc is well distributed over the entire area being heated. As an example of a drive which will give good results, the lateral or cross motion cam 92 may be driven at a rate approximately revolutions per minute, and the cam 108 at a speed of approximately 15.5 revolutions per minute.

Before summarizing the general mode of operation of our machine, certain additional features should be described. During a heating operation it is desirable to have the supporting structure 14 assume a definite position with respect to the two rails of the track, independently of frame 10, and that this position be adjustable with respect to the horizontal. To this end we provide a pair of depending rods 126 which are adjustably secured to the supporting structure 14 by the releasable gripping means 127. The lower ends of rods 126 carry feet 128 which are adapted to engage the upper surface of that rail which is on the other side of the track from the rail being heated. When the supporting structure 14 is lowered to an operating position, feet 128 engage the rail and support one end of the structure 14, while the other end of the structure is supported by engagement of box 27 with the rail to be heated.

A further feature is provision for automatically connecting one side ofthe electrical welding circuit to the rail to be heated, as the box 27 is dropped in position upon the rail. Thus, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 4, we provide a pair of contactors 136, which are arranged adjacent the ends of rods 137, which in turn are slidably received by brackets 138. Compression springs 139 serve to normally urge contactors 136 into good electrical conductive contact with the surface of the rail. Contactors 136 can be connected by suitable bus conductors with one side of the heating circuit, while the other side of the heating circuit is connected by the flexible conductors 121 to the electrode 36.

A circuit diagram for the entire apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this case one side of the direct current heating circuit 1 is connected to the electrode 36, and the other side of the heating circuit is grounded to the rail thru the contactors 136. A watt-hour meter 2 is also included in the welding circuit, so that an operator, by determining the watthour consumption during a heating period, can determine the amount of heat which has been imparted to the rail. Preferably, this watt-hour meter is arranged to close adjustable contacts after a predetermined amount of watt-hour consumption, and the closing of these contacts can sound an alarm 4. A suitable step-down transformer 9 is shown for the purpose of supplying alternating current to the windings 43 and 44. One side of the secondary of this transformer is connected to winding 44, and the other side of the secondary is connected to one conductor for the heating circuit 1. The primary of this transformer is connected to a suitable auxiliary alternating current exciting circuit. A relatively high amperage current is supplied to the windings 43 and 44, at a relatively low potential.

To review the general mode of operation of our machine, when the machine is being moved to a rail joint or other portion of the rail to be hardened, support member 14 is elevated so that the box 27 will clear the rail. If it is now desired to heat the upper surface of the rail ends at a joint, the machine is brought into proper position with the center line of the box directly above the center of the joint, and then structure 14 is lowered to seat the box upon the joint, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and to permit feet 128 to rest upon the rail of the track opposite the joint to be heated. The electric motor 87 is started in operation, and the heating circuit established. Upon striking an are between the lower end of the electrode and the upper surface of the rail, the are so established is caused to assume the search floors form of a fan, by virtue of the alternating current excitation of coils 43 and 44. The spreading or fanning of the arc is in a direction longitudinally of the rail, that is, in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the poles 41 and 42. Traversing movements of the electrode move the fanned or spread arc continuously in a predetermined pattern across the area of the rail to be heated. The two rail ends at the joint are heated simultaneously, because the pattern or path of movement of the arc extends over both rail ends. After the arc has caused a predetermined amount of heat input to secure the desired temperature of the rail, further operation is discontinued, box 2'7 is raised free of the rail. and the machine is moved out of the way to permit a chilling operation.

The spreading or fanning out of the arc makes it possible to utilize relatively heavy heating current, without injury to the surface of the rail. This is by virtue of the fact that the arc comes into contact with a larger area of the rail at any particular instant, than would be the case if it were not spread by means of a magnetic field. The use of a relatively heavy heating current makes possible more rapid heating, with less penetration of heat into the body of the rail from the layer of metal being directly heated by the arc. Likewise, the fanned arc enables an overlap between the paths of contact for successive lateral movements of the electrode.

We claim:

1. In a rail heating apparatus, an electrode from which an electric arc can be established to a rail, means for recurrently moving the electrode in directions both lateral and longitudinal of the rail to distribute the are over the area to be heated, and magnetic means associated with the electrode for spreading the arc.

2. In a rail heating apparatus, an electrode from which an electric arc can be established to the upper surface of a rail, means for repeatedly traversing the electrode over a limited surface area in directions both lateral and longitudinal of the rail, and magnetic means for spreading the arc.

3. In a rail heating apparatus, an electrode from which an electric arc can be established to a rail, means for repeatedly traversing the electrode over a limited surface area of the rail in directions both lateral and longitudinal of the rail, and magnetic means traversing in unison with said electrode for spreading the arc.

4. In a rail heating apparatus, an electrode from which an electric arc can be established to the upper surface of a rail, means for recurrently moving the electrode over a limited area of the upper surface of the rail in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and magnetic. means movable in unison with the electrode for spreading the arc in a direction longitudinal of the rail.

5. In rail heating apparatus, an open-bottomed box adapted to be seated upon a rail to encompass an area to be heated, an electrode extending into said box from which an electric arc can be established to the rail surface, means for continually moving said electrode in directions both lateral and longitudinal of the rail to distribute the arc over the area to be heated, and magnetic means enclosed within said box for spreading the arc.

6. In rail heating apparatus, an open-bottomed box adapted to be seated upon a rail to encompass an area to be heated, an electrode extending into said box from which an electric arc can be established to the rail surface, means for continually moving said electrode in directions both lateral and longitudinal of the rail to distribute the are over the area to be heated, and magnetic means disposed within said box and movable together with said electrodes, for spreading the arc in a direction longitudinal of the rail.

'7. In rail heating apparatus, an open-bottomed box adapted to be seated upon a rail to be heated, a closure plate slidably disposed above said box, an electrode extending thru said closure plate and adapted to move together with the same, said electrode being adapted for connection with an electric circuit whereby an arc can be established between the lower end of said electrode and the upper surface of the rail, means for reciprocating said cover plate and electrode laterally of the rail, means for simultaneously reciprocating said cover plate and said electrode longitudinally of the rail, and magnetic means carried by the cover plate and disposed within said box, said magnetic means serving to spread the electric arc.

ROYAL E. FRICKEY.

ARION S. KALENBORN. 

